May 2020

Revamping

Published on May 29, 2020May 29, 2020 by MoochkaLeave a comment

The make over of my foot stool is finished!! I’m over the moon how it turned out. I had this image in my head of what I wanted it to be and I have to say it looks way better, (please excuse the ugly before pic, it was taken in the garden just before sanding the legs).

I don’t remember how I came about to own this stool, I just remember having it for years. It has a beautiful shape, but it has seen better days. I always said I will give it a makeover and after finding all those little squares in my stash it seemed like the perfect time.

Yes, those perfect little squares. I crocheted them out of tapestry wool, which I got few years ago when John Lewis was discontinuing Anchor, and I was able to purchase them at 10p each! It was an incredible bargain. I originally wrote a blog on making them and included the pattern for the little squares, find the blog here.

All those gorgeous colours and my Brick of course 🙂

My initial idea was to make them into a shawl with grey yarn for the joining and edging, but the truth be told when I was laying it out, the wow factor wasn’t coming. It was just too busy for a shawl for me, I would never wear it, because I was only able to make three squares out of each hank of tapestry wool, achieving a true gradient effect wasn’t really an option. They went into my stash to be forgotten about for a long while, just to be rediscovered when I was sorting it out. I’m determined to finish all the small projects and use up all the yarn in my stash, so I couldn’t let them go back in again. It’s a good job too, as I had almost the perfect amount of them, only few squares left over after creating the cover, it was clearly meant to be.

Ollie was determined to help when I was organising them for a shawl.

I started the revamp with sanding down the legs and taking out the metal leg tips. They were only left on two of the legs and one was broken. I’ll get new leg tips in silver, when I get the chance. The little nails holding the tips in came out easily with pliers. I used coarse sand paper to sand them down, no particular reason, it’s the only one we had at home.

Reading about painting furniture now, they say you have to use primer, paint, then top coat. I did none of that, because I didn’t know. What I used is a little pot of furniture paint that I found in B&Q when Dave and I went there to get some gardening materials. They have it in fab range of colours and it’s perfect for small projects. It’s called Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch and I’ve chosen the Dark Grey colour.

I gave the legs four coats, and they look fantastic!!

I decided to keep the outer cover, I never reupholstered anything and was too afraid to start now. Also, didn’t see the point in taking it off, it’s undamaged and I didn’t have any suitable furnishing fabric to replace it anyway. The fabric I had the most of in my stash was cotton/linen mix, not very durable, but the stool never was in use much and it will be covered in crochet squares anyway.

Using my trusty staple gun I folded and stapled away. I just couldn’t get the corner nice and tight. Still, it will be covered and I do love the natural colour of the fabric with the grey legs.

Then I started on the squares. After playing with them for ages, I settled for placing them in diamond shape, that way I was still able to create slightly gradient effect. Also, placing them this way ensured that I was able to fold them nicely around corners without any bulk.

I used Flat Slip Stitch method to join them. You can find the tutorial for this technique here.

After pinning the corners, I joined them with Flat Slip Stitch as well.

I used needle and thread to sew each point to the fabric and along the triangle on the sides, just to keep it in place.

Then the final bit was attaching the upholstery nail stud strips which I purchased from BST Fabrics along with nails. Just the legs tips to go and the transformation will be fully complete.

I’m absolutely delighted with how it looks, I love it!! It will have a pride of place in the house now. Well, Ollie has claimed it as his own now, so we can’t even use it 🙂 Even poor Brick doesn’t get a chance to try it out.

The side triangle I sew in place with needle and thread

Anna xx

Methods for joining crochet squares

Published on May 27, 2020May 27, 2020 by Moochka1 Comment

I’m in process of crocheting a blanket, this is the gradient blanket I’ve designed for Sirdar, the pattern number is 10119. I’ve originally designed it in Hayfields Bonus DK, but I decided to use for my version Rowan Felted Tweed DK.

When the lockdown started, I thought this will be the perfect opportunity to completely organise my home including my huge yarn stash. Well, so far I only did the stash and I was very strict! I went from 6 containers and few additional bags of yarn and project to just 4 containers!! This is really an achievement for me. I donated all that I was getting rid of to the local church who will share it with the elderly ladies, they will use the yarn to knit for charity. I’m sure they will find it useful especially in lockdown.

While sorting out my yarn stash I came across lots of Felted Tweed, not surprisingly really as I love the yarn. That’s how the idea of actually crocheting a blanket for my home came about, I rarely make blankets for our home, they are usually a design for a yarn company. Of course, as much of the tweed as I had I didn’t have enough colours so had to order some more, but hopefully I will use the full balls so won’t be actually adding to my stash. Any small amounts left over I can use to crochet projects.

Anyway, onto joining techniques. All the squares in this blanket are joined using the Join-As-You-Go method which is a fab way joining squares which end in the granny square way. This got me thinking that I could do a blog about my three most favourite ways of joining crochet squares, so here it is. Below you will find descriptions, picture tutorials and video for join-as-you-go, flat slip stitch and slip stitch joint.

Join-As-You-Go

Please note – I start my granny squares at a corner with ch 5 which counts as a 1 tr and ch-2 sp.

This tutorial shows you how to join squares starting from the point when you have to join to the corner (have 3 squares already joined). The method is worked the same way when you start joining at the start, where you will attach only one side.

To start – You must have one square fully made. Then, start the next square and when you come to the final round, crochet 3 sides as normal and you will start joining to the first square on the last side.

Follow the rest of the tutorial and how to finish your round.

1. Work half of next corner (3 tr), insert your hook in corner space of first square (one above), work a slip stitch in that space.

2. Then make 3 tr into the same corner space of the square you are working on (that corner space is now completed).

3. 1 slip stitch into the next space (of the first square) between 2 x 3 tr’s from the first square.

4. Work 3 tr of next space of square you are working on.

Now just proceed. You are making a ‘normal’ granny square, just adding a slip stitch where you join your squares. Super easy. Don’t forget to keep your yarn on the right side of your hook!

When you were joining your second and third squares to corner spaces you were only working slip stitch into it. When you have three squares already joined and you need to attach a fourth one you will work the corner a bit differently, I like working it this way as it gives you a lovely joint.

5. Once you arrive at the second corner (where all four squares meet).

6. From the wrong side of work. Follow the blue lines shown on pic 5, insert hook into corner chain space of the square above and corner chain space of the square to the left, make a slip stitch.

7. Still working on wrong side of work, now follow the green lines in pic 5, insert your hook in corner chain space of middle square (one on top to the left) and work a slip stitch and 1 chain.

8. Now work 3 tr in corner space of the square you are working on now to finish it off.

Then just finish your square as usual.

9. I start my square with ch 5 and 3 tr in same chain space. To finish the joint, I work 2 tr in the beginning chain space, then join it to the 3^rd of beginning 5 ch.

10. Then slip stitch to the chain space of square you are working on and corner chain space of square you are joining to.

Flat slip stitch

I have used this method to join squares in the Bolderwood blanket. It produces gorgeous flat joint that is very eye catching. I’ve used the same colour to join the squares as for edging and it just ties in everything beautifully. The joint has no bulky seam just a clearly defined vertical and horizontal lines of stitches on the right side of work.

Place the squares side by side with RS facing up. Join yarn and squares with sl st in corner spaces. You will work only into the back loops of stitches.

Position your yarn so it’s in front of your hook, you will be moving your hook above the working yarn.

11: starting with the square to your right, insert hook from front to back into the back loop of the stitch, pull the loop through the one on hook.

12: Insert hook into back loop of next st on the left, followed by back loop of next st to the right, moving the hook above the working yarn.

13: Yarn around hook and pull through all three loops on hook.

14: You might find it useful to hold the squares with wrong sides facing each other.

15: Continue repeating steps 11 to 13 until all the squares are joined.

16: When working over corners, join a corner of square you are working on with sl st to corner on the opposite side, so that the stitches cross over.

17: This will give you a nice finish.

Slip Stitch joint

This is a fab and super easy joint. I’ve used it in my Cushion CAL and Lisbon Tiles blanket.

Please note – in the video I start by joining two squares at the same time to corners. Both way are fine to do, they really don’t make any difference.

18: Join yarn to any corner chain space of your first square.

19: Insert hook into any corner chain space of next square.

20: Make a slip stitch to join two squares.

21: With wrong sides facing each other, hold the squares together and with yarn at the back, insert the hook under full stitches (both legs of the V) of both squares.

22: Make a slip stitch.

23: Continue repeating steps 21 and 22 until the whole row of squares is joined. When you come to corner ch-sp treat them as a stitch but insert the hook into the spaces.

Below is a video with all three techniques. Hopefully you will find it useful.

Here’s a breakdown of what technique is at what point in the video:

Join-As-You-Go – beginning to 9.58 min
Flat slip stitch joint – 10 min to 14.05 min
Slip stitch joint – 14.07 min to end

Enjoy,

Anna xx

My new book

Published on May 8, 2020May 8, 2020 by MoochkaLeave a comment

I have realised that I have never written a blog about my new book, Crocheted Wreaths for the Home’. After months and months of secret making and planning it is wonderful for the book to be finally out. I thought it would be good to share few bits about the book with everyone who does not do the social media thing and images and my general happiness about it.

It’s always strange to release a new book into the wild, I’m always worried about how it will be received, but I worried for nothing, I have been over the moon with the receptions, so thank you so much everyone.

My beautiful friend Jade of @bb.creates.joy created the sweetest stitch markers to celebrate the release of the book. They are so sweet and available from my website, there’s a pumpkin, beetroot and acorn. I adore them so much Jade has done an amazing job with polyamide clay, she’s very talented.

The book came out in March and I had lots of very exciting things planned. Book launch at The Yarn Dispensary, lots of classes in other shops, but because of the outbreak of Corona Virus everything had to be postponed until further notice. It was disappointing after so many months of planning, but necessary and I am really looking forward to getting out and crocheting with everyone when it is safe to do so.

The book is all about wreaths, hence the name haha…The idea for it came when I took part in Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas in 2017 (I know, that long ago!). I was a contestant in the wreath making competition where I made a crochet wreath. Search Press though that crochet wreaths would be a perfect project, I had to agree, I mean who doesn’t love a decorative wreath?

I’m a big fan of hanging ornaments and wreaths are just perfect, I never believed that wreaths are just seasonal and I have one hanging somewhere in my house all year around. In this book I wanted to create a mixture of wreaths to celebrate events throughout the year such as Christmas, Easter and Halloween, also seasons, but it was also very important to me to have wreaths that can be displayed all year around such as the Mini Wreaths or the Berry Wreath. When I created the latter wreath, I hanged it on my wall in the bedroom for few weeks just to see if I like it. Even though the wreath looks rather simple, it is fact very effective, a very unassuming statement maker.

Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer Wreaths

The book contains 12 wreath designs and each wreath is accompanied by a smaller project that incorporates the main design in some form or other such as bunting, brooch and many others. When designing each wreath I wanted to create projects that not only can be made into a wreath but so the maker can use to create other decorations and accessories.

Halloween Wreath and mini project which is pumpkin pin cushion

Christmas Wreath and the lovely mini socks garland which will make perfect advent calendar

I created this little mice heist by using the mouse pattern from mini wreath and the berries and ivy leaves from the berry. The two mice are the same ones just on one of them I positioned the ears differently, so it looks like it’s looking down. I’ve changed the hook size and used thinner yarn. I used Jamesion’s of Shetland Spindrift and 2.50mm hook for the mice and small berries and leaves and yarn held double and 4mm hook for the bigger berries, leaves and vine. It’s just to show that you can take elements from each wreath and create other amazing decorations. I’m making a vegetable bunting now.

Mini wreaths and Berry wreath

I have also been creating smaller wreaths with the flowers from The Easter wreath. I have done few Instagram takeovers and shared a pattern from the book for each takeover, they have been deleted now, but the video on how to make a wreath base from ivy vines, it is still available on Search Press Instagram.

I also made a radish brooch from the Harvest wreath in my Instagram takeover for The Yarn Dispensary

I’ll also be releasing three blogs to cover few techniques for crochet and finishing that are important for the project in the book, so please watch this space.

If you want to hear about future takeovers and new blog, please follow me on Instagram or Facebook and please follow the blog to be the first one to hear.

Thank you so much for all the love to my book, it really means the world.